Extensible flask-clamp.



n. A. CLAPPER. `EXTENSIBLE FLASK CLAMP. YAFPILICMTH'IN FILED APR. 6, 1918.

, Patented 1360.17, 1918.

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, @MED STATESPALEENT OFFICE RAYAQ starren, Aor11.Iii/Lili;bHio. f

clamping two orgmore fiasks together.

- sections ofV the clamp willbe held against 0f the sectionAr to lieflush with the outer kThe invention has as a further object to provide av clamp which will 'be formed of' coacting sections adjustable for extending theV clamp and wherein the said sections will be formed to rigidly coactlwith each other when adjusted for 'securely holding the flasks together. i

And the invention'has asa still further ob ject to provide 'an arrangement wherein the separation.' v e 'Other and incidental objects will appear as the descriptionproceeds.- In the draws ings wherein I.' have illustrated the preferred Iembodiment.ofthe invention, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts through the several views yFigure 1 1s a perspective' View showmgthe manner in which'my improved clamp isf employed for connecting a `pair of flasks,

theasks being conventionally shown,

` Fig. 2 is a side'elevation on an enlarged scale particularly illustrating the manner 1n which 'the Shanks of the sections vof the clamp are received one within the other,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the channeled shankfof one ofr the clamp sections,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective viewshowingl thelug carried bythe shank ofthe other clamp section to coact with the teeth Specification of Letters Patent. Application led'April 6, 191,8. Serial'No. 2273131. f

Patented Deer?,11a/1e.l

lel lateral flanges 13. Formed in 'the outer edges ofv these flanges are oppositelyA disposed" series of longitudinally spaced teeth '1l having outwardly curved longitudinal edges. 60 ,A t the outer` open end of the Channel', the {iangesf13 project longitudinally beyond the bottom `wall thereof to form spaced guide flanges 15 lprojecting beyond the mouth ofl the channel 'and connecting these flanges is' a web 16 extendingbetween the bottom edges of the flanges in spaced parallel relation to the adjacent end edgeof vthe bottom wall of thechannelz` Formed in the outer side faces ofthe anges ina plane between the web A16y andthe saidjedge of the -channel bottom wall. are oppositely disposed grooves 17 ein tendingtran'sversely 'of' the flanges'.V The section lB ofthe clampy is formed Lwith 'a shank 18 carryingat its outer end a lateral 75 clamping arm 19 to confront the 'clamping arm 11"ofthesection A. The shank 18 is adapted to slidably lit within the channel 12 edges oftheg'ianges 13 of the said channel and is preferably formed with'- a beveled inner end 20 sloping toward the adjacent terminal ofthe shank. Formed on the inner v endof the'shank, at opposite. sides thereof, are'oppositelygdisposed lugs 21 adapted to engagewithinthe` series of notches i 14 of the flanges-13 of the channel 12 and providednwith curved inner faces 22 to fit, as particularly shown in Fig. 2 'of the drawings, the curved llongitudinal walls of the said notches; Thus it will be seen that these lugs'w'ill coactv with the said teeth forrigidly connecting the sections of the clamp. However, by simply pushing inwardly upon 4 the clamp sections the faces 22 of the said lugs will coaet with the curved edges of the notches engaged by the lugs' forliftingthe inner end of the shank 18 out ofthechannel 12 and riding the lugs vout of engagement withvthe said notches. Thus, the sections of the clamp maybe readily adjusted upon each l other, and, of course, the lugs 15 at the open' end of the channel will direct the shank 18 of the section B within the channel when the inner end of said shank is lifted by the lugs 21 riding over the teeth 14 of the channel flanges. Loosely connecting the sections is a U- bolt 23 fitting between the web 16 of the flanges 15 and the adjacent outer edge of 110 the bottom wall of the channel 12 to extend within the grooves 17 in the said Hanges.

Loosely fitting over the ends of the said bolt is a clip 24 which thusl overlies the shank 18 and is clamped in position by thumb nuts 25 adjustable upon` the bolt.

Formed in the lower face of the clip to open Y through the lower edge thereof, is, a trans.-l versely inclined recess 26 adapted to receive the shank 18. The lugs 15 at the clip 24 are slightly wider than the flanges 13 of the channel 12* so that the shank 18j may slide lbeneath the clip. Therefore, the" shank 18 will, when theA inner endl thereof isA lifted by the lugs 21riding upon the teeth 14, be permitted to pivot upon the connecting web 16 up into this recess so that the lugs 21 may clear the said teeth. Thus the sections may be readily adjusted upon each other in the manner previously described without removingthe U-bolt 23v and clip 24.

In Fig. 1 ofthe drawingsl have show-n the use of la pairI of myimproved clamps. in connection 'with a pair ofcnv-entional flasks` 27, these flasks'being placed' one urpon'the other'` in the usual mannerLEThe sectionsof the clamps are first adjusted upon each otheras previously described, to receive the sides. of the flasks between the clamping arms thereof, when suitable wedges4 28 are driven between the said arms and the flasks for thusv binding the flasks togeth-er.` Preferably, the Wedges used in connection vv'ith7 each' o f't-h'e clamps are, as shown- "injthis figure, reversely' presented-,so that the open" ation' of driving tle"`wedges beneath the clamping arms of the. clamps will not 'act to dislocate the clamps.- A-s will be seen, the clamps will thus igidlyiconnect the flasks; In any instance where a`greaternumber of flasks-are ito be eonnectedin themanf` ner: suggested in Fig. 1, the clamps may sim-A ply be extended for engaging around the" said flasks and, ofcourse, a similar adjust;

ment of the clamps maybe had for co-nnectV ing-j flasks of various depths. I' there-fore provide av particularly simple and efficient con-struction fory the purpose set forth and a clamp adaptedy `to dispense with the use of different sized flask clamps as now,v com! monlyemployed. Y

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An extensible clamp including coacting clamp sections each havin@ a shank provided one with a channel adjustably receiving the shank of the other section, a U-bolt embracing the channel of the first shank, a clip carried by said U-bolt to overlie the second shank for slidably connecting said shanks and provided with a recess adapted to receivel they second shank whereby the second shank may rock upon the first shank, the

saidk shanks being freely movable inwardly toward each other, and coacting means carried by the Shanksv for adjustably holding the shanks against outward movement.

l2jr/tin extensible clamp includingI coacting'cl'amfp sections each having asha-nk providedf'onc with a channel adj-ustably receiv ing-the sli-ank of the other section, a U-bolt embracing the channel of' the first shank, a clip carried' by said U-bolt to overlie the secondv sha-nk Ifor slidably connecti'n sai-d Shanks, and' coacting means carried the Shanks forfadjustablyholding the Shanks against'voutward' movement.-

"3.,Anf extensible cla-mp including coacting, clampv sections. each having a shank pro`l vided' one with a channel adjustabl'y.- receivh ing the shank of the other section, guideflangesy carried byv the said channel at the mouth' thereof and" slidably receiving the said second mentioned shank, a Web-con-4 nectingsai'd flanges and disposed in spaced relation ltothe outer end of' thebottom Walfli of the, channel, means embracing the said: flanges and loosely connecting the Shanks, the said meansiittingl between the said web and the said channel Wall, and coacting means'carried by the Shanks for adjustably' holding the Shanks against outward moves' ment." .l i4. An extensible clamp includingcoacting clamp sections each having ashank provided one with a channel adjustably receiving thel` shank ofthe other section7 gul-ide flanges. projecting longitudinally from the 'side walls of the channel at the mouth thereof and slidably receiving lthe'said secondv mentioned shank, means embracing said flanges and extending around said second mentioned shank for loosely connecting the said Shanks, the 'said means coacting Vwith the flanges to be held against movement longitudinally thereof, and coacting means carried by the shanks for adjfustably holding the Shanks against outwardmovement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RAY A. CLAPPER.' [ns'l comenta thinfpatent'marlte obtained, tor' are, c 'en-ts each, .by addressing the Commissioner of Intenta, f I -f i `LYiwihhizwmTLG.-l l i -f 

